Rousseau advocated democracy, education

Parisian's rise as famous, influential author unusual

11:43 PM,
Jul. 1, 2013

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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On July 2, 1778, while talking a morning walk to enjoy the natural wonder of his friend's garden on a bucolic estate in Ermenonville, Jean-Jacques Rousseau died of a brain hemorrhage. The garden was inspired by Rousseau's ideas and built by his last pupil, René Louis de Girardin, Marquis of Vauvray.

Though he had been the darling of Parisian society until 1762, his publication of "Emile," a book on education, angered both Catholics and Protestants for its rejection of the doctrine of original sin; for spreading his belief, Rousseau was exiled from France.